Castle of Rodon

{{Infobox military installation

|name=Rodoni Castle
Kalaja e Rodonit

|partof=

|location=Cape of Rodon, Durrës, Albania

|map_type=Albania

|map_alt=Durrës Castle

|coordinates= {{coord|41.585837498480814|19.448205864460977|type:landmark_region:AL-02|display=inline}}

|map_size=180

|image=Kepi_i_Rodonit_%E2%80%93_Festung.jpg

|image_size=280px

|caption= Castle on the Cape of Rodon

|type=

|builder=Skanderbeg

|materials=

|height=400 metres

|used=

|demolished=

|condition=Ruin

|ownership={{ALB}}

|controlledby=20px League of Lezhë
20px Republic of Venice
{{flag|Albania}}

|garrison=

|commanders=

|occupants=

|battles=First Siege of Krujë, League of Lezhë, Siege of Krujë

|events=

| open_to_public = Yes

| built = 1450

}}

The Rodoni Castle or Skanderbeg Castle ({{langx|sq|Kalaja e Rodonit; Kalaja e Skënderbeut}}) is a castle in Albania. Rodoni Castle is at an elevation of {{convert|1|m|ft|0}}.[http://elevationmap.net/unnamed-road-albania?latlngs=%2841.585806,19.448215000000005%29 Rodoni Castle Altitude and Location]

Overview

File:Fortezza di Scanderbech - Coronelli Vincenzo - 1688.jpg by Vincenzo Coronelli showing the Castle of Rodon and the St. Anthony Church]]

Rodoni Castle is on the Cape of Rodon. After the victorious First Siege of Krujë the League of Lezhë decided to increase the fortifications for use against the Ottoman Empire. Skanderbeg chose the cape of Rodon as the location of the castle and construction began in 1450. The walls of the castle that was completed in

approximately 1452 had a length of {{convert|400|m|ft}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.akt.gov.al/historia/item.php?id=103&lang=1|title=Rodon Castle|publisher=Agjencia Kombetare e Turizmit|accessdate=7 November 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725021253/http://www.akt.gov.al/historia/item.php?id=103&lang=1|archivedate=25 July 2011}} When the Siege of Krujë started in 1466 Skanderbeg retreated to Rodoni Castle from where he and his family, together with many people from Albania, were transported to Brindisi in 14 ships.{{cite book|title=Iz istorije Albanaca: zbornik predavanja : priručnik za nastavnike|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HVE8AAAAMAAJ|accessdate=19 June 2013|year=1969|publisher=Zabod za izdavanje udžbenika Socijalističke Republike Srbije|page=42|quote=Велика турска војска, коју је водио сам султан, провалила је 1466. године у Албанију и заузела готово чи- таву земљу. Скендербег се са имовином и породицом скло- нио на Родонски рт, чекајући да се пребаци у Италију. Тада је 14 бродова пуних Албанаца стигло у Бриндизи. }} According to Marin Barleti this castle was destroyed by Ottoman forces in 1467.{{cite web|url=http://www.dancealbfest.com/guide/htmlalbania/turizemrural/ishem/vizitdrac/KalajaSkenderbeut.htm|title=Kalaja e Skenderbeut, Kepi i Rodonit|last=Tauleda|accessdate=7 November 2010|archive-date=14 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314190602/http://www.dancealbfest.com/guide/htmlalbania/turizemrural/ishem/vizitdrac/KalajaSkenderbeut.htm|url-status=dead}}

In 1500 the castle was rebuilt by the Republic of Venice. As a result of the corrosive action of the sea waves, some of the walls are now under the waters of the Adriatic. Today the visitors can see the outer walls on the right side and the tower at the place they intersect.